### 88

The Chagarashi’s talons become ensnared in your oilskin cloak and you are wrenched out of the saddle as your horse gallops away. You hit the ground hard and the impact of the fall knocks the breath from your lungs: lose 2 ENDURANCE points.

The snarling Chagarashi leaps on you in a frenzy, slashing at your face and throat with its razor-sharp claws. Pick a number from the Random Number Table. The number you pick determines how many ENDURANCE points of damage you sustain from this manic attack (0 = -10 ENDURANCE points).

Lieutenant Quang and the Watchers see that you are in grave danger and they come galloping through the trees towards the frenzied Chagarashi. The lieutenant sweeps past and deals it a deadly scything blow with his kirusami, sending the foul creature’s head spinning away into the leafy undergrowth.

As you drag yourself to your feet, Quang and the Watchers draw their horses up in a semi-circle around you and the headless body of the Chagarashi. They are anxious of your condition but you reassure them that you are fit enough to continue. ‘We must proceed with caution,’ you say. ‘This creature may not have been the only one scouting this area.’

You remount your horse and lead the others through the tree-line in single file, with all eyes peeled for the slightest movement among the pines and foliage ahead.

Turn to 99.